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Local Travel Info
Internal Flights and Major International Airports
There are over 30 major airports in India, along with many smaller terminals, making most regions within the country easily accessible by air. The Airports Authority of India manages all major airports throughout the country. The primary gateway to India is Delhi, and it is at Indira Gandhi International Airport New Delhi that most people arrive in the country. Delhi’s airport offers connecting flights to international destinations and domestic locations around the country, while India’s secondary airports at Mumbai in the west, Chennai in the south and Calcutta in the east also provide a wide range of connecting flights to smaller destinations across India. Located less than 10 miles from the city centre, Indira Gandhi International Airport New Delhi boasts two terminals, with Indian Airlines, Alliance Air, Jet Airways and Air Sahara operating frequent flights to and from the capital among other airlines. There are free airport transfer coaches that run regularly between the international and domestic terminals here, while frequent bus services run from airport into the city. Prepaid taxis are also available and make a convenient way to reach your destination. Two car parks are provided; however, there is no long-stay car park and leaving your car here overnight can be expensive.
Car rental services are provided by Nitin Transport Company, licensed by the Airports Authority of India. Other facilities at the airport include internet access, pharmacy, eateries, rest areas, banking facilities and duty-free shops. Chennai International Airport is another convenient arrival point should you wish to visit southern India. Located just over 10 miles from the city centre, there are regular bus and rail services to the airport along with car rental services and prepaid taxis. Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport has recently undergone renovations, but facilities are lacking and like many of India’s airports, it can get very crowded here at times. The International Netaji Subhash Airport (Dum Dum Airport) in Calcutta has undergone significant improvements in recent years and services here are some of the best among India’s airports. Situated 12 miles from Calcutta’s centre, the airport offers direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Patna, Varanasi, Lucknow and Bangalore.
From London to Delhi is nine hours, to Kolkata (Calcutta) is 12 hours, to Chennai is 12 hours 30 minutes and to Mumbai is nine hours. From Los Angeles to Delhi is 25 hours 30 minutes. From New York to Delhi is 18 hours. From Singapore to Delhi is five hours. From Sydney to Delhi is 10 hours.
Getting To and From the Airport
Indira Gandhi International Airport
The Indira Gandhi International Airport is located 23km (14 miles) south of New Delhi.
is a massive expansion project which has started at the airport where a new terminal and runway are under construction and scheduled for completion in 2010. This is expected to increase capacity to 37 million passengers a year. More terminals and runways are planned thereafter, however, and the airport authorities are expecting a capacity of 100 million passengers a year by 2026. The International Terminal (Terminal 2) is about 5km (3 miles) away from the Domestic Terminal (Terminal 1) at Palam. There is a free transfer shuttle between the terminals. Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Air India also operate a free shuttle running 24 hours; information counters are situated in the Arrivals areas of both terminals.
The airport is signposted from the city centre. Car parking is available at both terminals. There are two car parks at Terminal 2 (premium and standard parking); a premium car park is also situated outside Terminal 1 (hall B). Free transfer is provided between Terminal 2 and the car park. Car hire is available outside the customs halls at both terminals; however, there is no facility for hiring self-drive cars at the airport, as these are not generally available in India. Buses run from the Arrivals area of Terminal 2 to central Delhi via Terminal 1 24 hours a day (journey time - 50 minutes). A railway reservations desk is located in the Arrivals area of Terminal 2 for passengers wanting to connect with the railway. An air-conditioned coach service is available; bookings and information are available in the Arrivals hall of Terminal 2. Delhi Traffic Police pre-paid taxi booths, located in the Arrivals areas of both terminals, issue vouchers for travel to the city; travellers should retain the receipt until reaching the desired destination and then hand it to the driver. Metered taxis and auto rickshaws are also available.
Bangalore HAL International Airport
Often known as Hindustan Airport, the Bangalore HAL International Airport (BLR) is situated on Airport Road, south-east of Bangalore and close to the suburb of Koramangala. The airport is well within the city environs of Bangalore, with the centrally located MG Road only about 6 km / 4 miles away and the Forum shopping mall also nearby. Bangalore HAL International Airport is a busy facility serving over 70 international and domestic flights every day, and some eight million passengers yearly. The airport is a major hub in southern India and is divided into two terminals. Terminal I contain the departures lounge for domestic flights, while Terminal II serves arrivals of domestic flights and arrivals and departures of international flights. Bangalore's very own luxury Kingfisher and budget Air Deccan are amongst the main airlines operating here, along with Air India. You can reserve a taxi from the airport's prepaid taxi counter at the KSTDC desk, which provide services 24 hours a day for passengers arriving from Arrivals Domestic and Arrivals International. The counter is located at Terminal II, where arrival information can be found. Taxis into the city are inexpensive and they are the most convenient means of transfer to Bangalore and the Urban and Rural districts, which comprises many hundreds of small village communities.
Kolkata Airport
Kolkata Airport is also known as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, is one of the major airports in the country catering to international and local traffic.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is located at Dum Dum near Kolkata. It is a civil airport and was originally known as Dum Dum Airport. Dum Dum Airport was later renamed in the honor of the Bengali Indian freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Kolkata airport is very small and handles around 5 million passengers annually. It's an international airport but over 75% of its passengers are domestic travelers. The airport is operated by the Indian government's Airports Authority of India and gives the impression that it's stuck in a time warp. It's outdated and lacks passenger amenities, although you'll find the bare necessities. Don’t plan on clearing immigration quickly at this airport. The process is time consuming and officers operate at a very leisurely pace. Fortunately, the airport is planned to be upgraded by 2011. The best way to get to the city center is to take a prepaid taxi from the Bengal Taxi Association counter. It operates 24 hours, and is located on the left as you head towards the exit of the international arrivals area. A fare to Sudder Street is around 200 rupees ($5).
Lucknow Airport
Lucknow airport is known by the name of Amausi, 20 km from the city. The direct flight from Lucknow to Delhi, Agra, Bangalore, Patna and other important cities of India. There are three international and 76 domestic flights departure every week from Lucknow airport. Mostly all the air services like Air India, Air Sahara, Kingfisher, Indian Airlines has regular scheduled flights from the Amausi airport. There are 24 medium sized aircraft departing per week and 61 flights for short destination every week from Lucknow Airport. From Lucknow Airport Indian Airlines fly daily to Sharjah. A popular flight Air India, fly once daily for Dubai. From Lucknow Airport there are Domestic flights for Delhi and Mumbai like Air Sahara..Various facilities are offered by Lucknow International Airport to its passengers including trolleys, Inter terminus bus service, car rental services, conveyor belts, hotels and restaurant etc.
There are a variety of facilities within the airport that include several bookstores, easy Internet access, telephone booths, trolleys, an inter terminus bus service, wheelchairs for the aged, affordable snack-bars, restaurants and even essential services like hotel reservation counters. For those that enjoy shopping without paying taxes, there is a duty-free shop in the airport lobby. Since the airport is in close proximity to the Lucknow business centre, transport to and from the Airport is very convenient. Moreover, travelers will find a gamut of transportation options. Additionally, the airport is positioned at a convenient distance from the railway station. Among the transport options available outside the airport are the government managed Roadways Service, which takes passengers from Amausi Airport to Lucknow Railway Station and the Inter State Bus Stand. The parking facility outside the airport is also commendable.
Tiruchirapalli Airport
Tiruchirapalli Airport is a domestic airport in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. It is situated 7 km south of Tiruchirapalli. The longest runway is 6,114 ft in length at an elevation of 292 ft. Indian Airlines operates majority of the flights from the airport. Passenger facilities such as snack bar, sweet stall, pharmacy, flower shop, rest rooms and medical aid are available at the airport. Hotel Femina, Royal Southern Hotel, Hotel Gajapria and Jenneys Residency are the nearby hotels. The National Highway bus-stop is 300 m from the terminal building. The nearest airports are at Chennai (315 km), Madurai (132 km) and Coimbatore (206 km).
Madras Airport
Chennai International Airport is situated at a distance of 7 km towards the south of the city. It is the third largest international and busiest airport in the country, after Delhi and Mumbai. The airport claims the distinction of being one of the first airports in India. The initial terminal was built at Meenambakkam, due to which it was known as the Meenambakkam Airport. The new terminal has been built at Pallavaram, which caters to the passenger traffic. There are a number of facilities offered by the airports authority for the convenience of the passengers:-
• Free Telephone in security hold area
• Special Assistance for physically handicapped passengers.
• Reserved parking, rest places, PCOs, Toilets, etc
• Reserved lounge / Executive lounge
• AAI (IAD) assistance counter
• Pre-paid taxi & car rental counter at Kamaraj Domestic Terminal and Anna International Terminal
• Infant lobby
• Free medical facility
• Free passengers trolleys
• Retiring rooms & dormitory accommodation for transit passengers
• Health scan facility at Kamaraj Domestic Terminal
• Auto vending machines for snacks, newspapers, magazines, etc
• Restaurant for passengers & visitors
• Entertainment televisions
• STD/ISD facilities on city side area and terminal
• Vending machines for tea / coffee and cold drinks in city side and terminal
• Airport declared as "No Smoking Zone"
• ICICI/Indian Bank ATM counters at Kamaraj Domestic Terminal
• Foreign exchange counters at departure/arrival/city side
• Communication centre for Internet browsing, Email, Video Phone, Conference, etc
• Video/Phone/Conference facility
• Duty free shop
• Gift shop, travelers requisite shop, book stall, etc
• AMBU-Lift facility
• Tourist Information Counter - Government of India
• Railway reservation counter
• City coach centre
Jaipur Airport
Jaipur Airport is the only international airport in the state of Rajasthan. Jaipur Airport is located near the town of Sanganer in Rajasthan. This International Airport is at a comfortable distance of 13 kms from the city of Jaipur. The Airport was declared an international airport on Dec' 29, 2005, keeping in mind the tourists from abroad. Jaipur Airport is well connected with all the major cities of the country and few foreign cities. There are frequent flights to and from Jaipur that run on a regular basis. To make the journey hassle-free, Jaipur airport is equipped with all the amenities of contemporary world. Following passenger services are available at Jaipur Airport, Sanganer:
• Post Office
• Prepaid Taxi
• Communication Center
• Infant Room
• Handicraft Emporium
• Duty Free Shop
• Book Stall
• Foreign Exchange Counter
• Tea / Coffee Counter
• Tourist Information Center
Thiruvananthapuram Airport
Trivandrum Airport is one of the three international airports in Kerala. As large number of people from Kerala is working in the Gulf, most of the international flights flying from Trivandrum International Airport are catering to the Gulf region. With the emergence of Kerala as a hot tourist destination, Thiruvananthapuram Airport is also handling large number of foreign tourists. Presently, eight International airlines are operating from Trivandrum Airport. These are: Air India, Gulf Air, Indian Airlines Ltd, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, SilkAir, and Sri Lankan Airlines. Trivandrum Airport has two Terminals: Terminal - 1 and Terminal - 2. Passenger facilities at Trivandrum Airport include:
• Duty Free Shopping
• Snack Bar
• Restaurant
• Tea / Coffee Vending Machine
• STD / ISD
• Free Baggage Trolley
• Rest Rooms
• Post Office
• Wheel Chair
• Assistance to Handicap / Aged / Infirm
Surat Airport
Surat Airport helps to maintain communication with other major cities of India as well as with other countries. The tourists coming to Gujarat from other parts of the country can access the airport in Surat. This airport has a well maintained infrastructure and it provides the passengers with best of services. Surat Airport is situated near Magdalla in the Surat-Dumas Road. The total area occupied by the airport of Surat is about 312 hectare. The runaway of this airport stretches for 14000 meter. The flight operating from airport of Surat is Indian Airlines. This airline company operated the first flight to the airport of Surat. The average expense of air ticket ranges from Rs 2,995 to Rs 15,000 if one has to travel to Delhi from Surat. At one point of time, flights were operated by Gujarat Airways and Vayudoot. Initiatives for upgradation of Surat airport was taken by the government of Gujarat. It is expected that contributions from private sectors will also be required in development process of the airport.Offering information on flights schedule at Surat Airport, air tickets, Surat hotels, travel agents in Surat, passenger information and travelogue.
Pune Airport
Pune airport is connected to almost all the major cities in India, like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, etc. There are plans to construct a new airport for the city of Pune. The Government of Maharashtra has handed over the responsibility of executing the Pune International Airport project to MIDC. The new airport is proposed to be built between the area of Chakan and Rajgurunagar. Lying at a distance of approximately 40 km from the city, this airport will be along the Pune-Nashik National Highway. Situated at a distance of approximately 10 km to the northeast of the city, the airport is presently sharing its runway with the Lohegaon Air Base. The airport in Pune served only domestic flights for quite a long time. However, quite recently it started operating flights to international destinations also. Air India operates direct flights from Pune to Dubai and Indian airlines, from Pune to Singapore. Read on to know more about Pune India airport.
Mumbai Airport
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the airport of Mumbai city in India. Earlier it was known as Sahar International Airport. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport covers an area of 1450 acres and is located in the Mumbai suburbs of Santa Cruz and Sahar. The airport is India's biggest International and domestic hub. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport consists of two terminals: Terminal 1 (Domestic Terminal) and Terminal 2 (International Terminal). These two terminals share common airside facilities but are separated physically by a landside. The airport authorities provide shuttle services between the two terminals for connecting passengers. Terminal 1 is further divided into Terminal 1A and Terminal 1B. Terminal 1A serves Indian, Alliance Air, Kingfisher Airlines and Go-Air. Terminal 1B serves Deccan Air, Jet and other private domestic carriers.
Terminal 2 is now Terminal 2A. Terminal 2A serves general International airlines whereas Terminal 2C exclusively operates nationalized government carriers Air India and Air India express and which are served by Air India ground operations. Terminal 2B is currently in operative. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is constantly being upgraded to make the complex compatible with new generation of airplanes. The changes include concrete reinforcements of the runways. The Taxi-bays are also being expanded.
A railway reservation counter is situated in Terminal 2, for connections to the metro rail system; trains run to the nearby airport Mumbai CST Terminus (formerly known as the Victoria Terminus) and Churchgate for connections to Mumbai and destinations throughout India. A city bus service to Mumbai and a pre-paid coach service to destinations in the southern states are available. Intercity coach services can be booked in the Arrivals areas of Terminal 2. Pre-paid taxis, metered taxis and motor rickshaws are available at the airport (journey time to the city centre - 90-180 minutes).
GMR Hyderabad Airport
Hyderabad airport is brand new and opened in mid March 2008 (Rajiv Gandhi International). It's operated by a private company and handles around 7 million passengers a year. The airport is excellent with world class facilities, including "in line" baggage screening machines, plenty of check-in and immigration counters to prevent delays, and good crowd control. The main drawbacks are the high prices of cafeteria and duty free items, costly taxi charges, and the levying of user development fees. The easiest way to get to the city center from the airport is to take a prepaid taxi but the fare is relatively costly at around 300-500 rupees, depending on distance. Alternatively, an air conditioned Aero Express shuttle service is in operation. The fare to the city is only 120-150 rupees. The new Hyderabad airport is well equipped for those want to rest and refresh themselves between flights. The airport's Plaza Premium Lounge offers nap packages with shower and lounge usage starting from 1,400 rupees ($30) for four hours. A 20 minute shower costs 300 rupees ($6). The Lounge is located opposite the car park and below the airport village area. The buses run every 30 minutes from 3.30 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. and every hour after that.
Goa Airport
Airport of Goa offers flights from international to domestic for visiting this picturesque land. International airport of Goa is positioned at Dabolim, which is approximately 30 kms from the capital city, Panjim in Goa India. Several domestic as well as international airlines for Goa are Air Sahara, Air India, Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Air Sahara and Air Deccan. If you are alone and feeling bore then there are several facilities, such as book shop, handicrafts emporium, duty free shop, Snack Bar, postal services, tea/coffee, international money exchange, restaurant, prepaid taxi service, mineral water, free baggage trolleys and wheel chair. Goa airport features appropriate car-parking facilities having occupancy of 114 cars and 6 coaches. Cars and small vehicles are charged a nominal sum at airport parking. On the other hand, cost of bus and coach parking is little higher.
Cochin International Airport
Cochin International Airport is an important development in the department of transportation in the city of Kochi in Kerala. The location of the Cochin International Airport is a major reason for its popularity. The three national highways of the city are located very near the airport. These highways are National Highway 17, National Highway 47 and National Highway 49. The seaport of Kochi and the major railway line between Delhi and Kanyakumari are situated close to this airport. The importance of the international airport in Kochi lies in the fact that it has made the city of Kochi easily accessible to the rest of the subcontinent of India. The comfortable and convenient connectivity of the city with the rest of the country has special importance in the industrial sector of Kochi. The wide ranges of industries that thrive in this city have been boosted up by the establishment of the airport. The transportation facilities available from the airport include hotel pick-ups, city bus service, general taxi service, pre-paid taxi service, car rental service, interstate bus service, interstate taxi / car service etc.
Bhopal Airport
Strategically located at the center of India, Madhya Pradesh is the largest State in the country. Madhya Pradesh also shares its borders with seven other States of India and is often the focal point of historic and cultural tours. Being the capital city, the Bhopal Airport is thus kept perennially busy with heavy tourist traffic. The Bhopal Airport is a public domestic Airport which serves Madhya Pradesh and its neighboring States. The Bhopal Airport is located at about 12 Kilometers from the old city. Keeping in mind the high demand for Flights to Bhopal, a number of Airlines have flights flying regularly to and from Delhi, Mumbai Gwalior, Gawahati, Goa, Lucknow and Indore. The Airlines that Fly from Bhopal Airport to important destinations include:
• Indigo Airlines Flies to Nagpur, Varanasi, Raipur
• Spicejet Flies to Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Hyderabad
• Go Air Flies to Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Rajkot
• Indian Airlines Flies to Delhi, Indore, Ahmedabad
• Jet Airways India Flies to Delhi, Khajuraho, Indore, Mumbai
• Kingfisher Airlines Flies to Indore, Guwahati, Nagpur, Patna, Lucknow, Pune, Khjajuraho
• Alliance Air Flies to Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Indore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ranchi, Allahabad, Lucknow
• Paramount Airways Flies to Madurai, Chennai, Hyderabad
• Air Deccan Flies to Delhi, Jabalpur
The Bhopal Airport is well equipped and customer friendly. Abiding by the Indian saying of “a guest is equivalent to God”, the ground staffs at the Bhopal Airport take care of the all around comfort of the traveler. The Airport itself also has amenities for the convenience of the travelers, which include comfortable lounge facilities, refreshments, clean toilets and car hire.
Travel Cost
Buses/Taxis/Trains/Rickshaws in India
New Delhi’s (Indira Gandhi International) is 23km (14 miles) south of the city (travel time – 45 minutes). There are coach, bus and taxi services to the city. There are duty-free shops, banks/bureau de change, post office, restaurants and car hire. Mumbai (Chhatrapati Shivayi International) is 29km (18 miles) north of the city (travel time – 50 to 75 minutes). Taxi services go to the city. Taxi fares should have fixed rates from the airport to the city. Public transport is also available in the form of the EATS bus service and local buses. There is also a railway system connecting with the Metro rail system. Facilities include a bank/bureau de change, post office, nursery, restaurant and shops. Kolkata (Calcutta) is 13km (8 miles) northeast of the city (travel time – 40 to 70 minutes). There is a 24-hour coach service to Indian Airlines city office and major hotels. A bus goes every 10 minutes, 0530-2200. Taxi services go to the city. There is a post office, bank, bars, duty-free shops and restaurants available. Chennai is 14km (9 miles) southwest of the city (travel time – 20 minutes). A coach meets all flight arrivals 0900-2300. There is a train every 20 to 30 minutes from 0500-2300. Bus 18A runs every 25 minutes from 0500-2200. Taxi services go to the city.
Amritsar is 11km (7 miles) from the city. Car hire, taxis and hotel pickups can be arranged from the airport.
The most popular way to get to your hotel from Delhi airport is by taking a prepaid taxi. You'll find a counter in both the domestic and international terminals as you exit the airport. From the international terminal, turn right after you head through the doors. After paying the fare at the counter, you'll be given a receipt with the number of the taxi on it. This is to be handed to the driver at the end of the trip. Make sure you hold onto the receipt until you safely reach your destination -- don't give it to the driver beforehand. The driver requires the receipt to get paid by the taxi office, and it can be a good negotiating tool to ensure that the driver does take you where you want to go, especially if he starts trying one of the popular scams (which is highly likely!). The prepaid taxi fare is around 250 rupees to Paharganj, and less than 200 rupees to Connaught Place. Buses, operated by EATS (Ex-servicemen Air-link Transport Service), run from the airport to Connaught Place via New Delhi Railway Station. The frequency is usually every 30 minutes during peak times and once an hour at other times. The cost is 50 rupees. DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation) also operate buses to the city center for the same price. Alternatively, many hotels will pick you up from the airport. They usually charge 400-700 rupees for the service.
Easy Cab also has counters at both the domestic and international terminals. Expect to pay around 350 rupees for your journey. You can phone the other "radio taxi" services listed above in the Delhi taxi section to pick you up as well. Buses in Delhi are operated by the government owned Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), and there are around 2,500 different bus stops in the city. Buses run from around 5.30 a.m. until around 10.30 p.m. at night. The frequency of buses varies from 5 minutes to 30 minutes or more, according to the route and time of day. Buses can be unreliable depending on the amount of traffic on the roads. Fares are more expensive on the new air conditioned buses. You'll pay a minimum of 10 rupees and maximum of 24 rupees per trip on an air conditioned bus, while the fare on ordinary buses is between 3 and 10 rupees. Blueline buses operate in Delhi to supplement DTC services, but they should be avoided where possible. These privately owned and leased out buses have no fixed routes, get very hot and crowded, and are driven erratically and at fast speeds -- all making for a dangerous and uncomfortable journey. Many of these buses have been involved in fatal accidents. The Delhi Transport Corporation also operates cheap Delhi Darshan sightseeing tours for only 100 rupees, from Scindia House in Connaught Place. Buses stop at popular attractions around Delhi.
Delhi has an excellent train network called the Metro. Trains run from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. Tickets cost from 6 rupees to 22 rupees. The trains operate both underground and above ground. Trains in the underground section run every 8 minutes during peak hours, and 12 minutes during non peak hours. The frequency of other trains is between 4 and 8 minutes during peak hours, and 12 minutes during non-peak hours. The Metro operates on an automated ticketing system. Tickets (which are cards or tokens) are purchased from ticket counters at stations. Special Tourist Cards are available for unlimited travel over short periods. The cost is 70 rupees for one day, and 200 rupees for three days. A 50 rupee deposit is payable as cards are required to be returned at the end of travel.
Delhi has plenty of auto rickshaws but it's extremely difficult to get any of them to put their meters on. The drivers will quote you a fare for your journey, so it's important to have an idea of the correct fares before you travel to avoid getting ripped off (which you certainly will otherwise!). The rate is 10 rupees for the first kilometer and 4.50 rupees for each additional kilometer. You'll be charged 25% extra at night from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. As a guide, you really shouldn't pay much more than 100 rupees to travel anywhere in Delhi. New Delhi Railway Station (Paharganj) to Nizamuddin Railway Station or Khan Market is around 50 rupees, New Delhi Railway Station to Connaught Place is 20 rupees, Connaught Place to Karol Bagh is 20 rupees, and Connaught Place to Old Delhi and the Red Fort is 50 rupees. As an alternative to taking an auto rickshaw, you can take a slightly more expensive taxi. The rate is 15 rupees for the first kilometer and 8.50 rupees for each additional kilometer. You'll be charged 25% extra at night from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Some taxis will take you to handicraft emporiums in return for a lower taxi fare, as they get commission for bringing customers there. You don't have to buy anything, simply looking is fine. Delhi Traffic Police prepaid taxis operate from popular locations, including major railway stations and the airport, in Delhi. This helps prevent overcharging and misbehavior by taxi drivers. A "radio taxi" dial-a-cab service also operates 24 hours a day in Delhi. The rate is a flat 15 rupees per kilometer from the time you start your journey. There are four companies that you can call, and they will send an air conditioned taxi to you. They are: Delhi Cab. Ph: 44333222. Mega Cabs. Ph: 1929 or 41414141. Metro Cab. Ph: 1923. Easy Cab. Ph: 43434343.
India by Rental Car
Budget car rental companies offer cost effective car rental packages in the most hassle free manner. On offer are convenient packages which include unlimited kilometers travelled and all the insurances that are mandatory. Budget car companies specialize in providing economical travel solutions and also organize group travel for their clients operating from Delhi and all the major cities across India. These services are mainly targeted at individuals, groups, leisure, business, adventure and for special travel and tours. Special introductory packages available for an SUV for Rs. 999 per day or a mid size Sedan for Rs. 1800 per day or a Full size Sedan for Rs. 3200 per day with unlimited mileage.
To book car rental in India online, view our Car Hire section for India. We offer Ok Alpha users the latest special offers and best rates available for car hire in India. We advise you book your India hire car in advance so you can pick it up and drop it off directly at the airport.
India Drivers Licenses Requirements
In order to drive in India, one must have either a valid Indian driver’s license or a valid international driver’s license. Because of difficult road and traffic conditions, many tourists who visit India wisely choose to hire a local driver. On Indian roads, the safest driving policy is to always assume that other drivers will not respond to a traffic situation in the same way you would in your country. On Indian roads, might makes right, and buses and trucks epitomize this fact. For instance, buses and trucks often run red lights and merge directly into traffic at yield points and traffic circles. Cars, auto-rickshaws, bicycles and pedestrians behave only slightly more cautiously. Frequent use of one's horn or flashing of headlights to announce one's presence is both customary and wise.
Cycling in India
There is a lot of cyclists in India so basically motorists are aware of them but having said that, riding a bike anywhere in India requires constant vigilance. To survive you need to employ a constant 360 degree radar zone of sound, sight and feel. On the bike, out in the country, it's a surprisingly delightful, easy and, despite all those crazy India stories you've heard, safe experience, at least in the South. Conversely, on the bike in the cities you are moving too fast to be targeted by the street flotsam and you never have to get ripped off by a rickshaw driver or climb on a crowded bus or train. Most importantly, on the bike, 90% of your time is spent with the ordinary country folk, who are not out to empty your wallet and play with your mind. Country folk worldwide are generally appreciative of your company and happy to have you visit and share a tea and a joke.
Hitch Hiking in India
Hitchhiking can be pretty good in India though generally people pay to be taken a distance along the road – public transport is sometimes non-existent. Make it clear before you get in.
You can always trust a Sikh driver and in general the truck people will want to take care of you. They’ll press food upon you and you can sleep on rope beds at the truck stops. There’s also water here for you to wash in your underwear (men only!) The roads can be abysmal though, especially if you head along smaller highways. Only around the cities will you get rides in cars and these will be with upper class Indians. When in big cities, beware of rickshaw scammers, price gougers, and pickpockets. Ill-informed and gullible tourists are easy targets, so educate yourself on the language, customs, and street smarts and you'll do fine.
